Systems and methods for providing adaptive wireless connectivity

• US 7,925,206 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jha, Uma S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US10/741,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,671 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/101, 455/522, 455/1, 455/278.1, 455/296, 455/289, 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.116
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0015 characterised by the adaptation strategy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

A new approach to adaptive wireless communications suitable for use in military environments and for other purposes is provided. One technique for reliably communicating between a first node and a second node includes the broad steps of establishing a wireless connection between the first node and the second node at a level of communication, monitoring a quality of the wireless connection, adjusting the level of communication if the quality of the wireless connection crosses a threshold, and repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication cooperatively using the in-band or out-of-band signaling schemes and negotiating the appropriate level of communication link avoiding excessive link outages and signaling overheads. By communicating at a level appropriate for the quality of signals received and adjusting the level as the quality changes, the overall reliability of the wireless communication is improved.

Claims

1. A method of reliably communicating between a first ad-hoc wireless network node and a second ad-hoc wireless network node across a wireless radio communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless radio connection between the first ad-hoc wireless network node and the second ad-hoc wireless network node at a state of communication;

monitoring a quality of the wireless radio connection;

adjusting the state of communication if the quality of the wireless radio connection crosses any of a plurality of upper quality of service thresholds or any of a plurality of lower quality of service thresholds, wherein said adjustment comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node comprising said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes, said adjustment performed by either of said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node; and

repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless radio communication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring step comprises determining a strength of a signal received at one of the first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes across the wireless radio communication.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the adjusting step comprises changing a wireless radio data communications rate to adjust the state of communication.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the adjusting step comprises changing the wireless radio data communications rate to a lower communications rate as the strength of the signal decreases.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the adjusting step comprises changing the wireless radio data communications rate to a higher communications rate as the strength of the signal increases.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the adjusting step comprises changing the wireless radio data communications rate to a higher communications rate as the strength of the signal increases.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of upper quality of service thresholds and a corresponding plurality of lower quality of service thresholds define a plurality of levels of communication, wherein each of the plurality of levels corresponds to a distinct state of wireless radio communication.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of upper quality of service thresholds and a corresponding plurality of lower quality of service thresholds respectively define a plurality of levels of communication, wherein each of the plurality of levels corresponds to a distinct state of the wireless radio communication.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the repeating step comprises repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps at a predefined temporal interval.

10. A method of communicating between a first ad-hoc wireless network node and a second ad-hoc wireless network node, across a wireless radio communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless radio connection from the first ad-hoc wireless network node to the second ad-hoc wireless network node at a state corresponding to a pre-determined first level of communication;

monitoring a signal strength of the wireless radio connection at the first ad-hoc wireless network node;

adjusting the state of the wireless radio connection if the signal strength crosses any of a plurality of upper quality of service thresholds or any of a plurality of lower quality of service thresholds, wherein each of the plurality of upper quality of service thresholds and corresponding lower quality of service thresholds respectively define a plurality of distinct levels of communication, wherein said adjustment comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node comprising said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes, said adjustment performed by either of said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node; and

repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps at predetermined temporal intervals throughout the duration of the wireless radio communication.

11. A method of communicating between a first ad-hoc wireless network node and a second ad-hoc wireless network node, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless radio connection from the first ad-hoc wireless network node to the second ad-hoc wireless network node at a level of communication;

monitoring a signal quality of the wireless radio connection at the first ad-hoc wireless network node;

adjusting the level of the wireless radio connection in response to the monitoring step, wherein the adjusting step comprises adaptively modifying a wireless radio link parameter in response to the wireless radio signal crossing at least one of a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds or a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds, wherein said adjustment comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node comprising said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes, said adjustment performed by both either of said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node; and

repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless radio communication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a data rate.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a coding scheme.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a diversity technique.

15. A method of negotiating communications parameters between a first ad-hoc wireless network node and a second ad-hoc wireless network node across a wireless radio communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless radio connection from the first ad-hoc wireless network node to the second ad-hoc wireless network node at a level of communication;

monitoring a signal quality of the wireless radio connection;

adjusting the level of the wireless radio connection in response to changes in the signal quality with respect to a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds and a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds, wherein the adjusting step comprises adaptively modifying a wireless radio link parameter to match the monitored signal quality, wherein said adaptive modification comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node comprising said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes, said adjustment performed by either of said first and second ad-hoc wireless network nodes including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node; and

repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless radio communication.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a data rate.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a coding scheme.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless radio link parameter comprises a diversity technique.

19. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communicating with a remote ad-hoc wireless network node across a wireless radio communication link having a signal quality, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

means for establishing the wireless radio connection with the remote ad-hoc wireless network node at a state of communication;

means for monitoring the signal quality of the wireless radio connection throughout the duration of the wireless radio communication;

means for determining if the signal quality crosses any of a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds or any of a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds, wherein each of the plurality of upper quality of service thresholds and corresponding lower quality of service thresholds respectively define a plurality of distinct levels of communication; and

means for adjusting the state of communication when the signal quality crosses any of the plurality of thresholds to thereby maintain the wireless radio connection at an optimal distinct communication state for the determined level of communication;

wherein said adjustment comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device, said adjustment performed by either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.

20. The ad-hoc wireless network radio device of claim 19 wherein the signal quality corresponds to a strength of a received signal at the wireless radio device.

21. The ad-hoc wireless network radio device of claim 19 wherein the distinct communication states correspond to wireless radio data transfer rates.

22. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communication with a remote ad-hoc wireless network node via a wireless radio communication link, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless radio connection from the ad-hoc wireless network radio device to the remote ad-hoc wireless network node at a level of communication;

means for monitoring the wireless radio connection at the ad-hoc wireless network radio device; and

means for adjusting the level of the wireless radio connection in response to the monitoring step, wherein the adjusting means comprises means for adaptively modifying a link parameter in response to the level of communication crossing any of a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds or any of a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds;

wherein said adaptive modification comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device, said adjustment performed by both of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.

23. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communicating with a remote ad-hoc wireless radio node via a wireless radio communication link, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless radio connection with the remote ad-hoc wireless network node at a level of communication;

means for monitoring a signal quality of the wireless radio connection; and

means for adjusting the level of the wireless radio connection in response to changes in the signal quality, when compared to a plurality of upper signal quality thresholds and lower signal quality thresholds, and wherein the adjusting means comprises means for adaptively modifying a link parameter to match the monitored signal quality;

wherein said adaptive modification comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device, said adjustment performed by both of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.

24. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communicating with a remote ad-hoc wireless network node via a wireless radio communication link, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless communication link;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless transceiver and to determine if the signal quality crosses any of a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds or any of a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the level of communication at the wireless transceiver when the signal quality crosses any of the plurality of quality of signal thresholds to thereby maintain the level of communication at an optimal level for the quality of signals received;

wherein said adjustment comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device, said adjustment performed by both of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.

25. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communicating with a remote ad-hoc wireless network node via a wireless radio communication link, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless radio communication link;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless radio communications link at a level of communication; and

a processor configured to monitor communications with the remote ad-hoc wireless network node via the wireless transceiver and to adaptively modify the level of communication to thereby maintain the level of communication at an optimal level for the quality of signals received when the signals received are compared with a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds and a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds;

wherein said adaptive modification comprises a negotiated determination by a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device, said adaptive modification performed by both of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.

26. An ad-hoc wireless network radio device for communicating with a remote ad-hoc wireless network node via a wireless radio communication link, the ad-hoc wireless network radio device comprising:

an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless radio communication link;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless radio communications link at a level of communication; and

a processor configured to monitor the quality of signals received for the remote ad-hoc wireless network node via the wireless transceiver and to negotiate an appropriate level of communication for the wireless radio communication link as a function of the quality of signals received with respect to each of a plurality of upper quality of signal thresholds and a plurality of lower quality of signal thresholds;

wherein said negotiation comprises communication between a receiving node and a sending node respectively comprising either of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device to determine said appropriate level of communication, said appropriate level of communication performed by both of said remote ad-hoc wireless network node and said ad-hoc wireless network radio device including said receiving node performing said adjustment and notifying said sending node that said adjustment is being performed by said receiving node.